Crews tackle fire caused by e-bike

Firefighters have extinguished a fire which was caused by an electric bike in Burton-upon-Trent.

Crews were called just after 6.30pm on Wednesday (14 January) to a house in Rolleston-on-Dove following reports of a fire.

Three appliances attended the scene and found a shed well alight.

A man in his 50s was taken to hospital for precautionary checks.

The fire was extinguished using a hose reel jet and fire crews deemed the cause to be an e-bike which was being stored in the shed.

E-bikes contain lithium-ion batteries, which can present a fire risk when over-charged, short-circuited or damaged.

We are reminding people of some key lithium-ion safety tips:

• Never keep items charging overnight or for prolonged periods without supervision. These batteries are highly combustible and can rapidly spread to neighbouring rooms within the home.
• Residents can mitigate the chances of their devices igniting by ensuring they are stored in cool areas, making sure nothing is covering them or blocking their extractors from working.
• Never store electronic devices in hot vehicles or areas prone to high temperatures.
• Don’t use counterfeit chargers and attachments.
• Purchase goods from reputable manufacturers and validate any warranties. Avoid purchasing used goods where possible.
• Ensure you dispose correctly of lithium-ion batteries when they have reached the end of their life.

For more safety tips, visit Lithium-ion batteries.